Russell Wilson made a remarkable return in Week 7, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a commanding 37-15 victory over the New York Jets. Despite dealing with a nagging calf injury that kept him sidelined for the first six weeks of the season Wilson’s performance against a team ranked No. 1 in passing defense and No.7 in points allowed was undeniably impressive.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin chose Russel Wilson over Justin Fields for Week 7. Up to that point, Fields had led the Steelers to a 4-2 start, tying the team for first place in the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens. Wilson was originally meant to be the Steelers starting quarterback. In March, Pittsburgh signed Wilson to a one-year contract, hoping the former Super Bowl winner would improve the franchise’s QB room. Unfortunately, Wilson experienced calf tightness during training camp, preventing him from playing for the first six weeks.
The start of Sunday night’s game was slow for Wilson and the Steeler’s offense. They were down 6-15 in the first quarter, Steelers fans were upset. Some went so far as even to boo at Wilson and the offense. Yet, those boos did not last long. After defensive back Beanie Bishop Jr.’s first interception, the Steelers found their rhythm and remained strong the rest of the game.
After all the criticism he received, Tomlin had the last laugh. When asked post-game about Wilson’s performance, Tomlin said “I thought he got better as the game went on, but I’m not surprised by that.” Tomlin knew it was bold to bench Fields and start Wilson, but he believed in the quarterback. Sure enough, that faith paid off.
Wilson played “excellently” in his Steelers debut, completing 16 of 29 passes to seven different receivers. His 264 yards were the most seen by a Steelers quarterback debut in franchise history. The Steelers scored the most points in a game since Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2022. Wide receiver George Pickens also had his best game of the season with five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. The connection between Wilson and Pickens on Sunday could be promising for the Steelers going forward.
Now 5-2 with Wilson back and performing well, the Steeler’s prospects are brighter than ever. Currently tied for first in the AFC North Division alongside the Baltimore Ravens, the team is poised for a thrilling race to the playoffs. Steelers fans have every reason to be optimistic about the rest of the season. With a rejuvenated quarterback and a solid team effort, the Steelers are ready to rise to the occasion and make their mark.
